Chemical ionization of aliphatic nitro compounds

The chemical ionization mass spectra of various aliphatic nitro compounds have been studied. Almost all the nitro compounds form stable [M+H]+ ions in sharp contrast to the instability of their ions produced by other ionization techniques. The fragmentations of the [M+H]+ ions are discussed, the mechanisms and structures of fragment ions proposed being supported by quantum mechanical calculations. Correlations between chemical ionization mass spectra and structures of compounds studied are outlined. Reliable identification of mono‐ and polynitroalkanes and some related derivatives may be made by analysis of their chemical ionization mass spectra.